Novel-novel oleh Ella Anderson

Rachel had barely slept a wink the night before. The pain—the sting of humiliation, of hidden wounds and whispered mockery—was too much to bear. She lay still, wrapping her arms around herself, trying to protect what little dignity remained. Her fake life was crumbling fast, and she could almost feel the end closing in. She was prepared to face the day. What else could she do? But deep inside, she dreaded what awaited her. It hurt—being in a place where every breath felt like a crime, where every step was shadowed by judgment. She had done nothing wrong. If she told Austin the truth—how she got the bruises, who had caused them—she knew he wouldn’t let it go. And that terrified her. The way he might react… it could validate everything the others were whispering about them. She couldn't risk it. Rachel arrived early at the office, cleaned off her desk, and prepared herself for whatever was coming. By eleven, the manager walked in with a booming voice. “Good morning, everyone!

Rachel rose before the sun, her hands moving in practiced silence as she prepared a breakfast that could impress royalty—blueberry muffins, tender braised chicken, and sautéed eggplant, all plated with care. She had one goal: win Daisy over, and make sure no new investigator was hired. The closer they got to the truth, the closer she came to losing everything.But when Daisy learned Anna had made the breakfast, she hesitated. Between John’s raised brow and Austin’s warm encouragement, she reluctantly tasted it—and didn’t complain. Rachel made mental notes: Daisy always microwaved her meals first and never touched anything green. She hated cabbage, and she seemed to flinch at certain smells.“Do you remember anything about your childhood?” Daisy asked her one evening, a softness in her voice.Rachel froze. “It’s painful,” she whispered. “I don’t remember much. That’s why I couldn’t find my way home. I must’ve had a family... probably.” She gave a sheepish laugh, brushing it off, though

It had been a few days when Daisy began to grow suspicious of Rachel. She wasn’t convinced by what Sam had said about the memory loss. Deep inside, she knew something was wrong. But Sam was the only person the family could trust with all their secrets. She picked up her phone and dialed his number. The phone rang twice before Sam picked up. “Hello?” “I’ve been having suspicions about Anna. She doesn’t act like the Anna we knew ten years ago. She’s so different—what she likes, what she eats, how she behaves.” “What are you trying to say?” Sam asked. “There’s a possibility that she’s not Anna,” Daisy said. "Are you saying Austin is deceiving his own family for a woman ".Sam said “No, no, no, no,” she continued, lowering her voice. “You know these days there are so many fraudsters. Austin could just be a pawn in one of these games.” Behind the firmness in her voice was growing fear. Sam, on the other end, was terrified. Daisy was right. He knew he couldn’t tell her the truth. B

Rachel’s heart raced in her chest as Daisy’s icy tone echoed in her head. She had smiled, lied through her teeth, and barely held herself together. The second Daisy walked away, she rushed through the hallway, frantically searching for Austin.She found him in the east garden, leaning against a column, scrolling through his phone.“Austin,” she called, her voice tight.He turned, immediately alert. “What’s wrong?”“We have a problem,” she said, lowering her voice. “Your mom... her reaction was off. I told her my allergies disappeared when I turned twenty, but—something about the way she looked at me... I think she knows. Or suspects.”Austin’s jaw tensed. “Damn it,” he muttered, standing straight. “She’s testing you.”Rachel nodded. “Maybe we should tell her something. I don’t know—maybe I had an injury when I ran away. Something that affected my memory. Anything.”Austin thought quickly. He could see the panic flickering behind Rachel’s eyes.“I’ll handle it,” he said calmly, placing

Rachel could hardly sleep the night before. She stared blankly at the patterned ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts. Slowly, she got up and staggered to the bathroom. Austin had left for work early that morning without telling her. He was heading to an important business meeting, but even he wasn’t sure why Rachel had suddenly grown cold after seeing Amanda. Sitting in his office, waiting for the meeting to begin, his thoughts lingered on her. Was she jealous? Does she like me? he asked himself. “Sir, they’re here,” his secretary said, snapping him out of his thoughts. He adjusted his suit and stood to greet his guests. Meanwhile, Rachel wandered around the mansion looking for Austin. After searching endlessly and finding no trace of him, she ended up in the massive parlor. There, John and Daisy sat on one of the couches. “Morning,” she said softly as she walked up to them. She was determined to make them love her. “Darling, how are you?” Daisy asked kindly. She sca

Racheal had spent two days indoors, studying every detail about Anna Daniels. She couldn’t risk being found out—not when everything depended on this deception. The day had finally arrived—the day she would meet Austin’s family.That morning, a luxury box was delivered to her door. Inside, nestled in silk, was a black Dior dress. Her breath caught. She had never worn anything so expensive. For hours, she rehearsed her lines, her posture, her expressions. She perfected her makeup and styled her hair until she barely recognized herself in the mirror.When a car horn sounded, she peeked through the window. There it was: a sleek black Bugatti. And Austin, waiting by the passenger door in a tailored suit that complimented his frame. He looked up, caught her gaze, and smiled. Damn him. That smile could make anyone believe in dreams.Racheal slipped into the dress and stepped outside, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. Austin’s eyes widened. He couldn’t tear them away from her—th